Budgam:During routine inspections of hotels, guest houses, and homestays carried out by the Police Party of Police Post Humhama, Police Station Budgam, a serious violation was detected at Homestay/Guest House Rose Cottage, Friends Enclave, Humhama.

It was found that the management had accommodated a foreign national without mandatory reporting. The management had deliberately failed to submit Form C, which is compulsory for the registration of foreign nationals.

Upon verifying the establishment’s details on the Form-C portal under IVFRT, it was further revealed that the said homestay/guest house was not registered with Tourism Department, despite mandatory requirements for hosting foreign guests.

Accordingly, FIR No. 337/2025, under Sections 8 and 23(b) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, has been registered at Police Station Budgam against the homestay management. Investigation has been set into motion.

Budgam Police advises all hotel, guest house, Individual Houses, and homestay owners to strictly adhere to legal requirements and ensure timely submission of Form C through the designated portal for reporting foreign guests.

Shopian, Dec 11, KNT: A fire incident in Tulran Shopian late Wednesday night damaged an estimated 400 to 500 crates of apples belonging to Bashir Ahmad Parry, son of Abdul Rehman Parry.

The blaze erupted inside a storage shed, causing substantial loss before locals managed to contain the flames.

Inhabitants of the area said the fire spread rapidly, leaving little time to salvage the stored produce.

Police and fire services reached the spot and initiated the necessary proceedings to ascertain the cause of the blaze.

No injury was reported in the incident, though the damage to apple stock has been described as significant. [KNT]

SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 10: Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Anshul Garg, today chaired a meeting to assess the preparedness for winter tourism activities at Sonamarg, following the operationalization of the all-weather Sonmarg Tunnel, which has ensured uninterrupted road connectivity to the famed tourist destination.

During the meeting, the Div Com stressed the need for the District Administration Ganderbal and the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) to adopt a vibrant and proactive approach in planning and executing diverse winter tourism and winter sports activities. He highlighted that the improved winter access provides a unique opportunity to promote Sonamarg as a premier winter destination and significantly enhance tourist footfall during the season.

The Div Com directed the concerned officers to ensure that hotel facilities, accommodation units, and tourist service establishments are thoroughly inspected ahead of the winter season. He emphasized strict adherence to food safety norms, fire safety protocols, and other essential public convenience measures to guarantee a safe and comfortable experience for tourists.

Anshul Garg further underlined the importance of coordinated efforts between district authorities, police, and tourism bodies to ensure seamless arrangements, including snow clearance, traffic regulation, emergency response, and availability of essential services throughout the winter months.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, SSP Ganderbal, CEO Sonamarg Development Authority, and other senior officers from the district and line departments.

Srinagar,: In Compliance to the directions already issued by NALSA and reinforced by JKLSA, the District Legal Services Authority Srinagar organised a Legal Awareness Programme at the Auditorium Hall of Government Medical College Srinagar. under the supervision of Mr. Haq Nawaz Zargar, Chairman District Legal Services Authority (PD&SJ) Srinagar. The event aimed at encouraging dialogue, spreading awareness and strengthening the understanding of human rights among students professionals and the general public.

The programme was organized in collaboration with Government Medical College Srinagar and Human Rights Anti Corruption Forum HQ Delhi JK UT. The initiative brought together legal experts, faculty members medical professionals and students to highlight the importance of safeguarding human dignity and ensuring access to justice for all.

The Programme commenced with a welcome address delivered by Dr. Andleeb Bashir, Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital Srinagar. Dr. Mohammad Aijaz Ashraf, Regional Director, Maulana Azad National Urdu University gave a general overview of the Human Rights on World Human Rights Day. The Resource Persons were Ms. Jahan Ara (Deputy Legal Aid Defense Counsel) who discussed the rights of unborn child , rights of the mother, rights of domestic workers and right of old age people and Ms. Sehar Nazir, Asstt. LADC who highlighted the importance of collective action in protecting human rights among Medical professionals and students.

The programme concluded with the vote of thanks by Ms. Tabassum Qadir Parray, Secretary DLSA Srinagar who appreciated the cooperation of GMC Srinagar and valuable contribution of all the speakers. Thereafter the secretary DLSA Srinagar inspected the Legal Aid Clinic at GMC Srinagar, reviewed its functioning and interacted with the deputed PLVs to ensure effective delivery of Legal Services to beneficiaries.

The event aimed to strengthen awareness and reinforced the commitment towards protection and promotion of human rights.

EOW Chargesheets Four in Rs 25 Lakh Land Scam

Srinagar, Dec 10, KNT: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet in a multi lakh land fraud case involving forged revenue records and cheating of innocent buyers.

The chargesheet in FIR No. 18/2025 has been presented before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B of the IPC. Four individuals have been named as accused, including Shabir Ahmad Ganie, Bashir Ahmad Ganie, Javeed Ahmad Hakak, who was posted as Pathwari at the relevant time, and one deceased Pathwari.

According to the investigation, the case surfaced after a joint complaint by several victims who purchased eight kanals of land through brokers. The complainants were shown transfers of four kanals under Khasra No. 92 in the name of one buyer, two kanals under Khasra No. 99 in the name of another, and the remaining two kanals in the name of the third complainant’s father.

However, despite assurances, the buyers were never provided with genuine revenue records. Verification later revealed that the mutation numbers and related land documents supplied by the brokers were forged and fabricated.

The EOW investigation established that the accused persons acted in criminal conspiracy and prepared fake land documents to project the transactions as legally valid. Using these forged records, they allegedly cheated the complainants and extracted an amount of Rs 25 lakh, causing substantial financial loss.

Investigators found prima facie evidence of cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy. Based on the findings, the chargesheet has now been produced before the court for judicial determination.

The EOW said it remains committed to safeguarding locals from economic offences and pursuing such cases through professional and thorough investigations. [KNT]

New Delhi, December 9, KDC: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested another key accused in last month’s Red Fort area bomb blast that claimed 11 lives and injured several others.

The accused has been identified as Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, a resident of Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir. He is the 8th person arrested in case RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI and was taken into custody by an NIA team from Delhi.

According to the agency, Dr Malla was involved in the conspiracy behind the terror attack. The investigation has revealed that he knowingly harboured deceased accused Umar Un Nabi by providing him logistical support. He is also accused of destroying evidence linked to the blast.

The NIA said it is intensifying efforts to uncover the broader network behind the attack in coordination with other central and state security agencies. (KDC)

Ganderbal, Dec 8, KNT: Ganderbal Police have arrested two persons and filed a charge sheet in connection with the illegal operation of a drone in a designated no-fly zone during the Amarnath Yatra 2025, officials said.

According to police, the incident involved the unauthorised flying of a drone over a notified restricted area along the Yatra corridor, which had been declared a no-drone zone in accordance with Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines to ensure security of pilgrims.

Officials said the drone was detected and brought down using soft-kill measures to prevent any potential risk. Following the incident, FIR No. 26/2025 under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at Police Station Gund and an investigation was initiated.

Police said a technical team later conducted a forensic examination of the seized drone to retrieve operational data and identify those responsible for flying it in the restricted zone. Based on the forensic report, two individuals were identified as accused.

They were named as Owais Muneer Khan, son of Muneer Ahmad Khan of Sanat Nagar, Srinagar, and Farooz Ahmad Nengroo, son of Abdul Rashid Nengroo of Munwarabad, Khanyar, Srinagar.

Officials said both accused have been apprehended, produced before the competent court, and charge-sheeted in the case. Further legal proceedings are underway. [KNT]